GLOUCESTER - A group of Charlottesville investors hope to develop a 778-acre tract southwest of the Gloucester Court House area into a residential and golf community.

Dartmoor Investors L.P., which holds an option to buy the property, between Routes 615 and 614 south of the Gloucester airport, has announced its intent to apply for rezoning.

To be called The Barrens, the project, if approved, would include 800 single-family homes, 200 condominiums, 140 retirement homes, 127 townhouses, 60 patio homes, 140,000 square feet of office space and an 18-hole golf course.

Local Realtor E. Claiborne Hogge, who is to sell the properties, said the project would be built in three stages, with the single-family homes and the golf course first.

"If everything goes smoothly, we could have the golf course in by next fall," said Hogge, who predicted the entire project could take up to 10 years to finish.

INATTENTIVE DRIVERS BLAMED IN CRASHES

MIDDLE PENINSULA - State Police have reported two serious accidents on the Middle Peninsula that occurred when inattentive drivers were surprised by traffic that had slowed in front of them.

Tucker C. Sanders, 72, of Warsaw remained in critical condition Thursday at Rappahannock General Hospital. His wife, Anna, 66, was in satisfactory condition.

The couple's car was struck head-on by a car driven by a 17-year-old Sunday afternoon on Route 33 just east of Route 681 in Middlesex County.

The Saluda youth, who was charged with reckless driving and who received minor injuries, swerved into the oncoming lane after crashing into the rear of a car that had stopped to turn left.

(Richard W. Rose, 39, of Hartfield, who was driving the car that was rear-ended, and passengers Pamela Rose, 37, and Rhonda Rose, 21, have been released after hospital treatment.)

Charges were pending Thursday against Mary Beth Beckley, 38, of Gwynn, who remained in satisfactory condition, along with her son, Jonathan, 11, at Riverside Regional Hospital following a May 7 crash on Route 14 just east of Route 3 in Mathews County, said Trooper A.F. Sullivan.

Sullivan said Beckley was driving a car that swerved into the oncoming lane to avoid piling into a line behind a car that had stopped to make a left turn.

(Other passengers in the Beckley car were Eric Beckley, 14, who was in satisfactory condition Thursday at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital, and John Beckley, 36, who was treated for minor injuries.)

GLOUCESTER PUPILS TO GET VACCINATIONS

GLOUCESTER - The Gloucester County school system will hold a series of free clinics to give fifth-graders their second vaccinations against measles, said W. Wayne Fox, supervisor of student services.

Fox said the clinics were scheduled because of a new law that all children enrolling in the sixth grade this fall must present proof they've had two doses of measles vaccine.

Until now, all students entering the school system were required to have one measles vaccination, he said.

(The clinics, to be conducted by the Gloucester Health Department, will be held in the schools for all students who have permission from their parents. Permission forms will be sent home with each student, he said.)